Statement by H.E. Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations at the 71th Session of the Sixth Committee of United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 84 - “The rule of law at the national and international leve10-08-2016, 06:20 am

Mr.
Chairman,

1. As this
is the first time I am taking the floor in the Sixth Committee, I would like to
congratulate you and other members of the Bureau on your election, and to
assure you of my delegation’s support and cooperation.

2. Viet
Nam associates itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished
representatives of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) and Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Mr.
Chairman,

3. The Committee meets this year when many parts of
the world are still suffering from conflicts, tension and confrontation. Imposition,
unilateralism, power politics and the threat or use of force hinder efforts to
peacefully settle disputes and conflicts. Underestimating the role of the
fundamental norms and principles of international law is one of the roots of
these problems.

4. It is in this context that the United Nations
should continue its role in promoting a system based on the rule of law at the international
level, anchored in the UN Charter, and supervised by the corpus of
international treaties and international justice mechanisms developed under its
auspices. All
disputes must be settled by peaceful means as defined
in Article 33 of the Charter, including legal processes.

5. The Asia-Pacific region, home to
more than half of the world’s population, is a highly dynamic engine of growth with
extensive trading with the rest of the world. The region
does, however, contain risks of conflicts, including in the South China Sea,
which can threaten regional and international peace, security and prosperity. We
are seriously concerned with recent complicated developments in the South China
Sea, and call upon all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and solve
disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the
1982 United Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully respect diplomatic and
legal processes, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of parties on the
South China Sea (DOC) and expedite the completion of the Code of conduct in the
South China Sea (COC).

Mr.
Chairman,

6. At the national
level, Viet Nam continues the progress in judicial reform, improving legal
system and ensuring the rule of law. Viet Nam has formulated and improved laws
on the organization and operation of political system’s institutions, with a
view of building a law-governed State. We have also strengthened the legal
system to ensure human rights, people’s freedom and democracy, as well as civil and economic
activities. Viet Nam has just acceded to the International Convention for the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and is actively preparing for the
ratification of the Paris Agreement by the end of this year.

7. I take
this opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to reaffirm Viet Nam’s commitment to working
closely with the United Nations, member states and other partners to ensure and promote greater adherence to the
rule of law at international and national levels.